Limonium plant named &#39;danlisadablue&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Limonium plant named ‘Danlisadablue’ characterized by: violet-blue flower color, RHS 93B; red-purple bud color; RHS 60 C; stem height of 70-90 cm; panicle type stem branching; and a yield of 6 to 10 stems per plant in the first flash.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant:

Limonium altaica

Variety denomination:

‘Danlisadablue’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Limonium plant, botanically known as Limonium altaica, hereinafter referred to by the ‘Danlisadablue’.

Limonium, of the Plumbaginaceae family, is commonly known as sealavender. Limonium is found wild on sea coasts and marshes across the Northern Hemisphere.

The new cultivar originated from an open pollination of Limonium plants within a breeding program field, discovered in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is a proprietary cultivar designated ‘DLB’ (unpatented). The male parent is unknown. ‘Danlisadablue’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the open pollination program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

A sexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in August, 2001 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Danlisadablue’ which in combination distinguish this Limonium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Violet-blue flower color, RHS 93B;

2. Red-purple bud color; RHS 60C;

3. Stem height of 70-90 cm;

4. Panicle type stem branching; and

5. Yield of 6 to 10 stems per plant in the first flash.

‘Danlisadablue’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without any change in the genotype of the plant. The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Table 1 provides a comparison between plants of ‘Danlisadablue’ and plants of the parent, ‘DLB’ (unpatented). TABLE 1 New Cultivar Female Parent Trait ‘Danlisablue’ ‘DLB’ (unpatented) Flower color Violet-blue group, Violet-blue group, RHS 93B RHS 93D Number of Flowers Approximately 30 Approximately 30 flowers in flowers in full bloom full bloom Growth and Erect growth habit; Erect growth habit; Branching Habit panicle branching habit panicle branching habit Yield of Stems 6-10 stems per plant in the 5-8 stems per plant first flash in the first flash

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Danlisadablue’ is the cultivar ‘Tall Emille’ (unpatented). ‘Danlisadablue’ is distinct from ‘Tall Emille’ in its narrow shaped inflorescence compared to the open and wide shaped inflorescence of ‘Tall Emille’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Limonium showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. The first photograph shows a top view of a flowering ‘Danlisadablue’ plant. The second photograph shows a side view of a flowering ‘Danlisadablue’ plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, in Mediterranean climate at sea level, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Irrigation and Fertilization use is common to commercial practice for Limonium plants. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS) (published 2001) except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 10:00 AM in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described was 1 year old, in its second flash and the stem which used to determine the RHS colour was at 30-50% open flower stage.

Plant

-   General appearance and form:     -   -   Height.—70-90 cm.         -   Spread.—40-50 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Erect.         -   Growth rate.—7-9 weeks from planting to the first bloom.         -   Branching habit and description.—Panicle.         -   Flowering stem length.—80-90 cm.         -   Flowering response.—Day natural.         -   Flowering season.—Year round, spring, summer and autumn in             open field, winter in a greenhouse.         -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—Frost tender.         -   Postproduction longevity.—2 weeks.         -   Rooting habit.—Tissue culture room.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Once tissue culture plantlets show             small roots, plantlets are transferred from the tissue             culture medium to a peat soil, then placed in 100% humid             condition for 7-14 days at 18-35° C., then the plantlets are             transferred to regular irrigation and fertilization.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: 30-45 days from the             arrival from the tissue culture laboratory until the plants             are ready to plant.         -   Fragrance.—None.

Stems

-   -   -   Appearance.—Panicle.         -   Aspect.—Stable, Erect.         -   Length.—70-90 cm.         -   Diameter.—Typical: 2 mm Observed: 2 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Green Group, RHS 139A.         -   Internode length.—Typical: 10-15 cm Observed: 10-15 cm.

Foliage

-   Overall shape of leaf: Obovate. -   Apex: Obtuse. -   Base: Cuneate. -   Length: 15-30 cm. -   Width: 4-6 cm. -   Margin: Entire. -   Texture: Smooth. -   Color of upper surface:     -   -   Mature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136A.         -   Immature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136A. -   Color of lower surface:     -   -   Mature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136B.         -   Immature leaf.—Green Group, RHS 136B. -   Venation: None. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—3-12 cm.         -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.         -   Color.—Green Group, RHS 141C.

Inflorescence

-   Flower type and habit: Erect, trumpet shaped. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—0.5-0.8 mm.         -   Depth.—0.5 mm. -   Overall shape: Trumpet-shaped.. -   Calyx:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Length.—0.5 mm.         -   Width.—1 mm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color when opening.—White, RHS 155A, at the base and             violet-blue, RHS 93C, at the top.         -   Color when fully open: White, RHS 155A, at the base and             violet-blue, RHS 93C, at the top. -   Corolla:     -   -   Number of petals.—5.         -   Shape.—Round saucer-shaped.         -   Diameter.—5-7 mm.         -   Depth.—Typical: 0.7 cm Observed: 0.7 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Length.—3 mm.         -   Width.—1 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Oblong.         -   Apex shape.—Truncate.         -   Base shape.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color when opening.—Upper surface: Violet-Blue Group, RHS             93B Lower surface: Violet-Blue Group, RHS 93B.         -   Color when fully open.—Upper surface: Violet-Blue Group, RHS             93B Lower surface: Violet-Blue Group, RHS 93C. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—4.         -   Shape.—Oval when stretched out and semi tubular on the             plant.         -   Length.—2-4 mm.         -   Width.—1-2 mm.         -   Form.—Alternate, very dense.         -   Color.—Green and transparent sepals cover the calyx. Upper             surface: Green, RHS 141C. Lower surface: Green, RHS 141C. -   Bud:     -   -   Color.—Red, RHS 60 C.         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—2-3 mm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm. -   Peduncle description: Borne from 2 Sepals, 4 mm long, smooth     texture, green color, RHS 141C).

Reproductive Organs

-   Stamen.—5 in number, white in color. -   Anthers.—5 in number, 0.5-1 mm in length; color brown-black. -   Pistil.—5 in number. -   Stigma.—Filament, white in color. -   Style.—Filament, white in color. -   Ovary.—Green in color. -   Seeds:     -   -   Width.—1 mm.         -   Length.—2 mm.         -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Color.—Brown. -   Fruit: White-brown in color. -   Pollen: Yellow in color. -   Disease resistance: Unknown. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the ‘Danlisadablue’ have exhibited good     tolerance to draught, rain and wind, however flowering may cease     during hot periods (temperatures 30° C.). 

1. A new and distinct Limonium plant named ‘Danlisadablue’, as illustrated and described herein. 